How to build the ultimate grow room

Building an indoor grow room is an economical way to maintain a constant flow of fresh, quality bud for your stash. For many, growing is the only way they can afford to maintain the amount of marijuana they need. So how much does it take to build one? What are the most important things to consider before you start? Whether you are looking for an easy DIY, grow room, or a more professional scale setup, it is important to consider several things before learning how to build a grow room for weed. You must first consider the funds you have available for the project. Higher quality lights and seed can be outright unaffordable for the average person. HID light prices range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and quality feminized seeds will run in the hundreds for only a few. You need to set a budget and weigh the pros and cons of each purchase according to your personal needs. Once you have done that it’s time to consider what is often the biggest expense. Proper Lighting.

Exactly what you’ll need to start growing

Step 1- Lighting

The quality of light required for cannabis plants to grow is minimal, but they won’t grow under just any average bulb, and sunlight is incredibly difficult to control to manipulate your sprouts for the best yield. So where should you begin? There are two most commonly used grow lights, and they are HID and fluorescent lighting.

HID lighting $200-$4000

This kind of light is the most powerful and generally more expensive option. There are two different categories of HID Lamps. Metal halide (MS) and high-pressure sodium (HPS). Both will emit a stronger more concentrated light than their fluorescent counterparts, and both contain at least one gas-filled tube.

MH Lights- Metal halide bulbs will emit light more focused on the blue portion of the spectrum. Its light appears as white and does not distort the color of a plant.

HPS Lights- High-pressure sodium bulbs emit a strong orange or red spectrum light and will distort the colors of the plants they illuminate.

Fluorescent grow lights $20-$500

Fluorescent grow lights also have two variations. High intensity and regular fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent are the less expensive option and give the user the option to choose a light color that suits their preference. High intensity is slightly more expensive, but both offer similar benefits to both the plants they illuminate and the user. Traditional fluorescent bulbs emit a light that isn’t quite so strong and tend to cover a smaller area, so if you do choose this option than you may need more than one.

Installing lighting

Remember no matter which option you choose. There will be a different guideline for how many square feet they can cover. You will need to measure your required space before knowing exactly how many you will need. The general rule here is 20-40 watts per sq. Foot. If you divide the wattage of your bulb by 20 and then separately divide the wattage of your bulb by 40, you will have the range of your potential light intensity. Lighting is always best hung from either individual shelves far from the coiling of the center of the room. The exact distance between the light and anything else like ceilings, walls, or plants is determined by which light you buy. Please refer to your lights manual for specifics to avoid any fire hazard. Make sure all lamps are attached via a stud, or directly onto shelving that is secure and can bear the weight safely. If installing on shelving then refer to step three before moving on.

Step 2- Air Circulation

With all the fuss over the lighting, many forget that it’s imperative to your cannabis plants, and your grow rooms health to ensure a constant circulation of air. Without this, you can end up with mold issues killing your plants and ruining your walls. Most newer homes are built to maintain a good consistent air flow of their own for the same reasons. Unfortunately, most older houses were not designed or built with that in mind. If you are growing in a stuffy house, then your first step should be purchasing an air exchange system. Something that will filter old air outside while bringing some fresh air in. Basic blowers like THIS Can be purchased on Amazon for under $50 and are usually sufficient for small to medium sized grow rooms. They can be installed using bristle board into just about any sized window. If you do not have a window, you may need to consider other options like drilling a hole for a vent/exhaust.

Step 3- Shelving

When building the ultimate grow room, you need to decide what kind of shelving will work with the lights you want to use, and how many plants it can all sufficiently provide for. Shelves on walls are not recommended as the water runoff can damage the walls. Usually, the best shelving system will be focused in the center of the room and more of a table with one or more shelves. This will provide the best accessibility and view for the grower.

Step 4- What you will need to put it to the test

Seeds - Now it’s time to put this DIY grow room to the test. There are a variety of ways one can choose to determine the perfect seed. Some prefer faster grow times. Other prefer a slower larger yield. Some are going for the highest THC content regardless of the other variables. It is entirely up to you. There is no “perfect” or “right” strain that will work for everyone. Feminized seeds come with a slightly higher cost but will always produce a female. Since female plants are the ones that you want for the yield and THC or CBD content, feminized seeds are usually the most desirable. These seeds will also eliminate waste and worry. You won’t have to be nervously watching for males or wasting any precious grow space to sprout and grow them in the first place. Regular seeds will provide a 50/50 chance of males vs. female. Luckily the rest of the materials you will need are a bit more basic.

Soil- You want to start with the most nutrient-rich soil available to you. Pre-fertilized is always best as it will continue to feed your sprouts for 3-4 weeks.